The Gestures Altar is a favorite material in the Level I and II Atria. Pondering the idea that gestures/movements have meaning, looking at one moment of the Mass in isolation, and linking individual prayers together to see the beauty and unity of the Mass all seem to factor into the children’s love of this station. […]
The Gestures Altar Read More »
The Holy Spirit was invited and HE CAME. Yesterday, the E2 and A1 groups went with 10 WOS adults to the U.S. Bank Vikings Stadium to attend the CSCOE Mass of the Holy Spirit. The students displayed their extraordinary leadership and witness amidst 13,000 other Catholic School Students through leading the rosaries on our bus
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After the child has been introduced to the numbers one through ten, the child has understood the concept of quantity and the names of the symbols that represent these numbers over repeated work. The child can also grasp the idea of zero and decipher associations of quantities and the symbols. Through work with the number
Introduction to the Decimal System Read More »
Numbers one to ten are the first math materials presented. This usually happens around 3.5-4 years old. The materials in this area support the child in gaining a concrete understanding of the quantities zero to ten. To begin, we introduce the concrete representation of quantity with the number rods. “The advantage of this material is
This week I expand upon the Land and Water Globe introducing the second Globe known as the Colored or Painted Globe. For the young child, this is the first introduction to the naming the Continents of the World. The colors of the colors of the Continent give placement and order to the globe. Next, when
The Introduction of the Painted Globe and the Hemisphere Map of the World Read More »
One of the biggest challenges in offering the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a parish or school has to do with providing enough time in the Atrium. At The Way of the Shepherd the elementary children have two hours a week in the Atrium but even that much time is rarely enough. Twice this
Observation is a particularly important part of the learning process. Children (and adults!) of all ages benefit from taking time to observe. Nature, social interactions, and the work being done around them all provide opportunities for observation. In the Atrium, time to observe is most important for the youngest child because, according to Dr. Montessori,
Monday was an exciting day here In our house! The children have been listening to stories the past few weeks about Caterpillars and butterflies not knowing that they would soon be seeing first hand how the life cycle of a Butterfly works! We gathered at group on Monday morning, I had a new butterfly book and a
Butterfly Life Cycle Read More »
Children busy at work… Researching St. Joan of Arc in order to add to a set of short reports on a variety of saints of personal interest. Drawing and labeling the items of the altar. Researching and recording personal and world events of the past century to ponder in light of God’s Plan. Creating a
E2 / Level III Atrium Read More »
This past week the Level II (E1) and 3rd/4th grade children had their first opportunities to plan the communal prayer time held at the conclusion of our Atrium session. The oldest children in the Atrium were asked to plan prayer around the Gospel passage John 15:5. They chose opening and closing songs and wrote petitions
Planning Communal Prayer: The True Vine Read More »
